In an attempt to detract from President Obama’s newly launched re-election campaign, the RNC responded with a web-based “Case against Obama,” citing the President’s stance on social issues despite recent poll results indicating widespread, bi-partisan support for LGBT equality measures.
The republican campaign, entitled “Hope Isn’t Hiring,” cites Obama’s support for the repeal of DADT and the establishment of nondiscrimination legislation for the LGBT community as cause for concern and antagonism. However, a number of current polls suggest that Obama’s actions in fact reflect the desires of the American populace – and in some cases, of republicans and democrats alike.
When it comes to DADT, an ABC News/Washington Post poll reported that 77 percent of Americans support open military service for gay and lesbian service members — and according to a November 2010 Pew Research Center poll, 63 percent of moderate republicans and even 47 percent of Republicans overall were among those in support of open service. The ABC News/Washington Post poll also indicated that Republicans support of anti-discrimination policy and universal equality for Americans regardless of sexual orientation is on the rise.
In addition to growing support for LGBT equality amongst traditionally resistant political groups, current statistics also suggest a low overall focus on social issues like gay marriage as compared to pressing economic issues like the economy and unemployment. With 54 percent of Americans reporting jobs and economic recovery as their primary concern and only 5 percent indicate gay marriage as the most pressing issue in America, HRC president Joe Solmonese explains that the RNC’s focus on social concerns may be a misfire.
Condemning the “Hope Isn’t Hiring” campaign for its narrow perspective, Solmonese argued that “this website makes it quite clear that the party continues to misread the priorities of the American people. Hate is never a winning strategy.”
